Coatesville School District solicitor James E. Ellington, left, School Board President Neil Campbell, second from left, and acting schools Superintendent Angelo Romaniello, third from left, listen during the Coatesville Area School District School Board Meeting Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013 at the 9/10 center in Caln Township. (Photo by Tom Kelly IV/Daily Local News)

COATESVILLE — More than 24 hours after the Coatesville Area School Board voted to accept the retirement of its superintendent and the resignation of its athletic and activities director, the votes of two board members are still unknown.

With more than 1,000 parents and taxpayers in attendance, the school hastily voted 6-1 Tuesday night to accept the retirement of former Superintendent Richard Como and the resignation of former high school Athletic and Activities Director Jim Donato, after both men were found exchanging racially-charged text messages about students and staff using district-issued phones.

School board members Joe Dunn, James Fox, Bill Sweigart, Paul Johnson, Laurie Knecht, and board President Neil Campbell voted to approve all items on the agenda. Tanya Thames Taylor was the lone board member who voted against.

According to Campbell, board member Diane Brownfield and board Vice President Rick Ritter were unable to attend the meeting. He said Brownfield recently broke her leg, while Ritter was away in Seattle on business. He said that both members were conferenced into the three-hour meeting.

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When the school board picked up and left the stage after the vote, however, it was unclear if the two members remained on the line for the vote, or if they voted to approve or deny agenda items.

Both members were conferenced in and were heard responding to roll call, but it is unclear if they voted on agenda items — including voting on the Como and Donato issue, Campbell said.

District recording secretary Karen Jackson confirmed both members were on the phone at the start of the meeting but she said she was unsure if the two members were still on the line when the board voted, and said she only recorded seven votes.

Brownfield and Ritter were unable to be reached for comment.

Residents in attendance of Tuesday night’s raucous meeting said the hasty vote and departure of the board left them feeling unsure of what had happened.

“When we were sitting there at the end waiting for vote, they never asked for the two that were on conference. I am unsure how that works and the laws if they have to be present but I think it’s a disgrace,” resident Lynda Ricevuto said, adding she understands why the two members could not attend but the board should have rescheduled knowing it was important for all members to be present.

Resident Greg Wynn, who said he plans to run for a seat on the board at a write-in for Region III, was not able to attend the meeting, but watched the Daily Local News’ live feed.

He said he did not take offense to Ritter and Brownfield’s absence but was disturbed to see other items on the agenda voted on without discussion.

“What I do find repulsive is that they used what is called a consent agenda vote -- one vote for everything on the agenda. So, the vote was not only a ‘yes’ for resignation, but Romaniello as acting super, new teacher hires, and the other items,” he said.

“I strongly believe the resignation vote should have been separate from all other items,” Wynn said.

The agenda including the hiring of more than 50 district employees, the appointment of a new business administrator, the resignations of 16 additional employees, and appointing an acting superintendent and acting assistant superintendent.

Some audience members said they were puzzled after the board agreed to approve all items as if they were listed on the consent agenda, voted and hurried off the stage without further discussion other than that for the departures of Como and Donato.

“They did that because they knew public comment would be lengthy. But I strongly believe the resignation vote should have been separate from all other items,” Wynn said.